It’s bad for you, so why can’t you just stop? We are not just creatures of habit, we are better than any other animal at changing and orienting behavior toward long-term goals and/or benefits. We have the ability to replace our bad habits with other healthier habits and behaviors. Replacing does not simply erase the previous behavior, but you can strengthen the new one and suppress the old one. Here are five tips for breaking bad habits: Avoid temptations:  If you always stop for a donut on your way to work, try a different route. Keep fatty foods, cigarettes, alcohol and other tempting items out of your home. Replace unhealthy with healthy behaviors: Try exercising, or practicing a favorite hobby. Prepare mentally: If avoiding temptations is difficult for you, plan in advance. Plan how to handle temptations and practice what you plan. Enlist support: Have friends, family, and co-workers to support your efforts to change. Reward yourself for small steps: Give yourself a healthy treat every time you hit a small goal. Our Licensed Mental Heath Counselors can help you change your bad behaviors and replace them with healthy ones. If you feel that you do not have the strength to begin the process on your own, let us help you. We will work with you every step of the way and help you create goals and steps for breaking your bad habits. (813)244-1251  www.starpointcounselingtampa.com #habits #counseling #Badhabits #breakingbadhabits #Replacingbadhabits #starpointcounselingcenter #healthyhabits

A codependent person is one who has let another person’s behavior affect him or her, and who is obsessed with controlling that person’s behavior. The heart of the definition and recovery does not lie in the other person, it lies in the codependent and the way they have let other people’s behavior affect them and in the ways they try to affect the other person. Below is a short list of some characteristics of a codependent. Think and feel responsible for other people’s feelings, thoughts, actions, choices, wants, needs, and well-being. have anxiety, pity and guilt when other people have a problem. feel angry when their help isn’t effective wonder why others don’t do the same for them. find themselves attracted to needy people, and vice-versa over-commit themselves come from troubled, repressed, or dysfunctional families and deny it. fear rejection feel as if they aren’t good enough, and are different from other people worry about the silliest things lose sleep over problems or other people’s behaviors lie to protect or cover for people they love lack of trust of themselves and others, their feelings and decisions It is estimated that 80 million people are chemically dependent or in a relationship with someone who is. If concern has turned into obsession; if compassion has turned into care taking;  if you are taking care of other people and not yourself, you may be in trouble with codependency.The first step toward change is awareness, and the second is acceptance. Call us today for information on how we can help you understand what codependency is all about! (813)244-1251 #chemicallydependent #codependency #counseling #starpointcounselingcenter

Break-ups happen all the time, for multiple reasons. Believe it or not there are many ways to prevent them. Below are some helpful tips for keeping your love life on a positive track. Let go of grudges: Don’t let resentment buld up, talk to your partner so you can fix the situation. Avoid taking your partner for granted: Put a little bit of extra energy into your relationship and do small things to show your partner you care. Be trusting of your partner: If you feel that your partner may lie or cheat on you, discuss those concerns with them Face adversities with them: Be there for your loved one and support them, working as a team will help you get through any challenges you may face. Deal with problems head-on: If you do not discuss your problems then they will build up and eventually become to difficult to solve. Find new things to do together: Enhance your bond by mixing things up so the relationship doesn’t become boring. Find new hobbies and activities to participate in. Speak whats in your heart: Being afraid to speak honestly and being vulnerable will only hinder your relationship. Let your partner know when you want to have a serious conversation and don’t be afraid to be open and honest. Stand up for yourself: If you are unhappy with something your partner is doing or feel that your needs are not being met, let your partner know. If they won’t listen then it may be time to seek help from a professional. Break-ups are always preventable, it’s just a matter of how much effort you are willing to put forth. Relationships take work and dedication. It is ultimately up to you to decide if your relationship is worth the effort or not. If you feel that you are on the verge of a break-up, call us today. We can help you rebuild your relationship. (813)244-1251 #Preventingbreakups #relationshipcounseling #relationships #Breakups #starpointcounselingcenter

To adults and parents, a teen’s life may seem carefree. But in reality, teens struggle with many of the same things adults do, including depression. Teens who struggle with depression often exhibit many warning signs, as a parent you want to be aware of what they are and the actions to take. If you spot any of these warning signs be sure to get your teen the help that he/she needs. Deep sadness. Sadness that persists for more than two weeks. Teens with depression have many thoughts or talk about suicide, or may resort to hurting themselves through cutting. Changes through eating habits or weight. If your child seems tormented about weight, it could be a sign of depression. Changes of eating habits are also a sign, look for suddenly eating more or less and sudden weight changes. Changes in sleep patterns and activity. Some teens may suddenly exhibit insomnia and have a hard time sleeping, while others may sleep much more than usual. Changes in mood and behavior. They may be very moody, becoming easily agitated, irritable and upset. Some teens may begin abusing alcohol and drugs or start getting in trouble with the law. Plunging self-esteem. Teens who are depressed tend to think negatively and very critically about themselves, they are never satisfied with their appearance. Withdrawal. Withdraw socially from friends and family and no longer want to participate in activities they used to enjoy may be a sign to look for. Physical pain. Frequent headaches, stomachaches, and pain elsewhere in the body for no otherwise clear cause may be a sign of depression in teens. Also, suddenly complaining of being very fatigued and having no energy, as well as frequent and sudden spells of crying. If you notice any of these signs previously mentioned, call us so we can help encourage the expression of negative thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that may be compromising your child’s sense of well being. We can provide tools, skills, and strategics to help your child improve his or her self esteem and self concept, relationships, and to increase their level of functioning at home and at school. Call Today! (813)244-1251 www.starpointcounselingtampa.com #depression #Dealingwithdepression #counseling #teens #TeenDepression #starpointcounselingcenter

No one gets married expecting to get divorced later down the road. An definitely no one expects to have their marriage destroyed by an affair. So how do you begin to move on after this has happened to you? Your husband or even family and friends may try to pressure you into trying to work on your marriage and get past this bump in the road, but only you know if it is actually doable. For many, the broken trust and damaged bond is irreparable. Moving on from your marriage will be far from easy, but if it is the path you choose to take then it will be worth the painful journey. There are many ways to make the process and healthy and productive as possible. Accept that the marriage is over: Stop emotionally investing in the past. The more you hold onto the past, the more you will recreate it in your present moment and in the future. Allow yourself to feel: Be aware of your thoughts, bodily sensations, and reactions. You cannot heal if you don’t recognize consciously, and it will not go away if you keep shoving it to the side. Know that feeling afraid is normal: Learn to face and overcome your fears by taking a close look at your anxiety over the marriage ending and ask yourself if it is truly valid. Learn what nurtures you: You have the power to create a future of your own making, be proactive and take responsibility of your own happiness. Express yourself authentically: By being real with people, you will find yourself connecting to others in a way you never had before, which speeds up the recovery process. If you feel betrayed by your spouse’s infidelity, express that honestly and constructively. Forgive: Realize that forgiveness is mainly for your benefit not any one else’s. Trust the process: Keep going. Every step, no matter how small, is moving you forward. Set long-term goals for yourself: This is a real indicator that you really are prepared to let go of the past and move on. Set plans for your future, and create some exciting plans for yourself. If you are struggling with moving on from your marriage after infidelity, call us today so we can help you begin your journey of moving on from infidelity. (813)244-1251 Visit our website to learn more about how we can help! www.starpointcounselingtampa.com #StarPointCounseling #Movingon #divorce #marriage #Infidelity

Negative thoughts can drain you of energy, and keep you from being in the present moment. The more you give in to these negative thoughts the stronger they become. Once these negative thoughts occur it is hard to stop them and shift your focus to more positive thinking. But if you want to stop yourself from going down a painful and unnecessary path then learning how to overcome this hurdle will benefit you greatly in the long run. Here are some tips you can try to begin your journey to positive thinking: Surround yourself with positive people- when you are stuck in a negative spiral, talking to people who will put things into perspective and won’t feed your negative thoughts will help you. Change the tone of your thoughts from negative to positive- for example instead of thinking “tomorrow is going to be such a tiring, and hectic day at work,” think, “tomorrow I will have some challenges to face at work, but I will overcome them and feel accomplished at the end of the day.” Don’t play victim. You created your life, take responsibility- you are never stuck in a situation, there is always room for growth and change. Help someone- take the focus off of yourself and do something nice for someone, it will take your mind off of things and make you feel good about yourself. Practice self-affirmation- this is the latest psychological cure-all. It involves thinking about your positive traits and beliefs and has been found to increase social confidence and self control. If you are struggling with ridding yourself of negative thoughts, counseling can be a great way to get help. The therapists at Star Point Counseling can work with you and teach you tips and exercises on changing your negative thoughts into positive ones. Call today to make an appointment and begin building a more positive and happier you! (813)244-1251 www.starpointcounselingtampa.com #NegativeThinking #PositiveThinking #StarPointCounseling

When stress hits, you can either lose your marbles or handle the overload with grace. Below are seven short-term fixes to help you accomplish the last mentioned, even if you only have a minute. Try one (or two, or seven) of these effective, do-anywhere tips! Take a deep breath: Taking a deep breath is a simple, effective way to calm your mind and give you perspective. Plus, deep breathing can release endorphins in your body, which will up your sense of well-being and make you feel more at ease. Shout it out: Make an executive decision to remove yourself from a stressful situation to let it out in private. This way, you won’t mistakenly direct your frustration at an undeserving bystander. Visualize a peaceful place: Even if you can’t physically get there, a mini mental vacation will bring you closer to your happy place. Turn on your favorite tune: It’s no secret that music is a stress reliever and your favorite jam can help put things into perspective. Peel an orange: I know your probably thinking how in the world that could help, but aromatherapy has been linked to reduced stress levels in adults. While you might not have any therapeutic oils on hand, chances are you can find an orange to peel. Pet your pooch: According to the National Center for Infectious Diseases, spending time with your pet can decrease blood pressure. Clean your desk: All that physical clutter could be a reflection of what’s happening inside. It’ll just take a minute, with the potential to reset your workflow and clear your head. Cant figure out how to deal with the stress? Is it too overwhelming and starting to affect your life? Call us today and we can help you reduce stress, relieve pain, and make you feel better. (813)244-1251 www.starpointcounselingtampa.com #Dealingwithstress #starpointcounselingcenter #Stress #stressmanagement

Unfortunately, therapy still remains a shrouded subject, and many myths persist.These misunderstandings can prevent people from seeking help and getting better, and gives something valuable a bad name. These are 7 myths that just won’t go away. Myth #1: Everyone can benefit from therapy: This is false, only those who are motivated to change will truly benefit from therapy. It is important to be ready, willing, and open to therapy. Myth #2: Therapy is like talking to a friend: Although it is important to have friends as support, therapists are trained to understand these matters and are able to offer more than just good advise. Myth #3: Therapy isn’t working unless your in pain: This is not entirely true. Therapists may address painful subjects, but therapy is more about understanding yourself and others, and learning how to cope with different situations. Myth #4: Therapy entails brainwashing: Some people believe that therapists push their ideas and agendas on their clients. However, a good clinician helps you re-discover or regain your voice, not lose it. Myth #5 Therapists never take sides: At times, a therapist might have to take a side, either to keep a couple moving along, to challenge a client, or because of a particular issue at hand. Sometimes taking sides leads to more progress. Myth #6 Change takes place during therapy: False, change actually takes place before and after your sessions. The goal of therapy is to apply the changes to your life, which is the hardest part. Myth #7 Seeing a therapist means your damaged, weak, or crazy: There is nothing crazy about working on specific problems or trying to overcome intrusive symptoms. Therapy gives you the opportunity to utilize all the tools at your disposal to maximize your satisfaction and effectiveness in life. Call us to find out how we can help you with any difficult situation you may be dealing with (813)244-1251 #myths #StarPointCounseling #therapy

It is completely normal for your teenager to want to be independent, but not to act out in dangerous extremes. If they are creating self-destructive behavior DO NOT wait to intervene. The longer you let it go, the more perilous the situation becomes. Here is some advice for parents with troubled teens: -Identify the cause: If your teen is making drastic behavioral changes, there’s a reason. It’s a cause-and-effect situation. As a parent, it’s your responsibility to identify what’s behind the change. It may be a recent event, or it may be something deep-rooted. -Look back: Negative events that happened at ages 2, 3 or 4 help to shape children’s personalities. By the time these toddlers become teenagers, they’ve been living with the resulting pain for most of their lives. As teenagers, they are able to act on these feelings with more lasting — and harmful — consequences. -Listen and talk: Teenagers today have more opportunities to make bad decisions than they did in years past. This is all the more reason that you must be a positive, reliable person in your child’s life. Listen to him or her and resist the urge to judge or advise; sometimes just being heard helps. Even though they’re often reluctant to admit it, they seek approval, love, and a “soft place to fall” in their parents. If they don’t feel valued, loved and understood at home, they’ll turn elsewhere to get the acceptance they so deeply need. -Act like a parent: …especially if your teenager is already going down the wrong path. A warm relationship is ideal, but sometimes you must do things your child won’t understand. Remember: you’re a parent, not a pal. Your responsibility is to ensure the well-being and safety of your child. Intervening in a dangerous situation (like ones involving drugs, abuse or truancy) might make your child dislike you, but it will also save his or her life. If you are having a hard time dealing with your troubled teen, seek help from a Licensed Mental Heath Counselor. For more information on how we can help visit our website! http://www.starpointcounselingtampa.com Call us today to set up an appointment! (813) 244-1251 #selfdestructiveteens #StarPointCounseling #teens #troubledteens

Going through a separation or divorce can be very difficult, no matter the reason for it. It can turn your world upside down and make it hard to get through the work day and stay productive. But there are things you can do to get through this difficult adjustment. Recognize that it’s OK to have different feelings: It’s normal to feel sad, angry, exhausted, frustrated and confused—and these feelings can be intense. Accept that reactions like these will lessen over time.  Give yourself a break: Give yourself permission to feel and to function at a less than optimal level for a period of time.No one is superman or superwoman; take time to heal, regroup and re-energize. Don’t go through this alone: Sharing your feelings with friends and family can help you get through this period. Isolating yourself can raise your stress levels, reduce your concentration, and get in the way of your work, relationships and overall health. Don’t be afraid to get outside help if you need it. Take care of yourself emotionally and physically: Take time out to exercise, eat well and relax. Keep to your normal routines as much as possible. Try to avoid making major decisions or changes in life plans. Don’t use alcohol, drugs or cigarettes as a way to cope; they only lead to more problems. Take time to explore your interests: Reconnect with things you enjoy doing apart from your spouse. Invest time in your hobbies, volunteer, and take time to enjoy life and make new friends. Think positively: Easier said than done, right? Things may not be the same, but finding new activities and friends, and moving forward with reasonable expectations will make this transition easier. Life will get back to normal, although “normal” may be different from what you had originally hoped. At Star Point Counseling Center we do everything we can to help you fix and save your relationship, but we are also prepared to help you and your family make the smooth transition through the process of separation and divorce, if that is the decision you feel is right for you. Visit our website for more information http://www.starpointcounselingtampa.com/ or call us today to schedule an appointment with a professional counselor (813)244-1251 #divorce #counseling #separation #counselor #divorcehelp #SUPPORT #starpointcounselingcenter

Anger is a completely normal, usually healthy, human emotion. But when it gets out of control and turns destructive, it can lead to problems—problems at work, in your personal relationships, and in the overall quality of your life. And it can make you feel as though you’re at the mercy of an unpredictable and powerful emotion. If you are having a hard time controlling your anger here are some simple steps that can help calm down angry feelings: -Breathe slowly and deeply: breathe from your diaphragm; breathing from your chest won’t relax you. Picture your breath coming up from your “gut.” -Count to 10: Counting to 10 gives you time to cool down so you can think more clearly and overcome the impulse to lash out. -Practice calm words: Slowly repeat a calm word or phrase such as “relax,” “take it easy.” Repeat it to yourself while breathing deeply. -Use imagery: visualize a relaxing experience, from either your memory or your imagination. -Meditation or yoga: slow yoga-like exercises can relax your muscles and make you feel much calmer. If you feel that your anger is really getting out of control, if it is having an impact on your relationships and on important parts of your life, you might consider counseling to learn how to handle it better. Our licensed mental health professionals at Star Point Counseling Center can work with you in developing a range of techniques for changing your thinking and your behavior. Call us today to set up an appointment! (813) 244-1251 http://www.starpointcounselingtampa.com/ #anger #counseling #ManagingAnger #starpointcounselingcenter

Siblings, who can figure them out? One minute they hate each other, the next minute they’re each other’s best friend. They insult each other horribly but rise to each other’s defense if an outsider bothers one of them. Siblings support each other and wish each other the best, that is, during those rare moments when they’re not out to beat each other in some real or concocted competition. Love and hate, closeness and distance, respect and loathing: for complexity, nothing beats the relationship between siblings. Regardless of age, gender, and temperament difference, all siblings fight sometimes. And although children deserve the right to have their differences, its certainly a reasonable goal for a parent to want to decrease the frequency and intensity of sibling conflict and lessen its impact on family life. Here are a list of things you can do to help: *Don’t play favorites- the sibling at the short end of the stick will feel that he/she has to fight for your love *Spend one-on-one time with each child- making time for each sibling goes a long way to ease feelings of competition *Don’t pressure your children to get along- If they learn to respect, support, and be kind to each other, it is a successful relationship *Stop keeping score- trying to be completely even handed is not only impossible, but it intensifies the competition *Set a good example- the way you interact with your spouse, other adults, and with your children will be used as a model For information on how we can help your family solve these conflicts visit our website or give us a call to set up an appointment with an experienced counselor! (813) 244-1251  http://www.starpointcounselingtampa.com Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/starpointcounselingcenter or follow us on Twitter: @starpointcenter #counseling #familycounseling #siblingrivalry #siblings #fighting #starpointcounselingcenter